TechCrunch+ Roundup: Ocean Tech Investor Survey, AI & PR, L-1 Visa Options

Last week, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which protects consumers from deceptive marketing practices, issued an advisory titled “Keep Your AI Claims Under Control.”

In marketing, “false or unsubstantiated claims of product efficacy are our daily bread,” wrote Michael Atleson, an attorney with the FTC’s Advertising Practices Division.

Artificial intelligence is on everyone’s lips right now,” and at the FTC, one thing we know about buzzwords in marketing is that some advertisers won’t be able to help but misuse it and to abuse it.”

Given the renewed interest, “for companies where AI was previously #4 on the list of proof points, machine learning capabilities should merge into the main hook of the announcement,” advises Camilla Tenn. , public relations strategist.

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“If AI-related coverage can get a new, unknown brand into their target posts today, it could help pitch the brand’s pitch deck to potential investors or partners tomorrow,” she writes in TC+.

Tenn recommends emulating major players like Google and Samsung, which have dedicated teams that release a steady stream of “ongoing projects” material related to mainstream tech trends.

“Even though these projects don’t see the light of day, the PR team has strategically positioned the brand as ‘innovative,’” Tenn says. “With this precedent, startups shouldn’t feel embarrassed to use whatever means necessary to get their name out there.”

Good advice for marketing hirelings, but keep these arguments straight – reporters know when we’re sold, and the FTC mean business.

Thanks for reading – and for doing this. TechCrunch’s fastest growing newsletter last month!

Have a good week-end,

Walter Thompson
Editorial Manager, TechCrunch+
@yourprotagonist

How to turn an open source project into a profitable business

Many developers rely on donations and crowdfunding to monetize open source projects, but with proper planning, teams can leverage their work for commercial clients that will put them in a higher tax bracket.

Providing users with customer support or consulting services are common sources of income, according to product development consultant Victoria Melnikova, who also says developers should form partnerships and use platforms like Reddit and Hacker News to reach out. potential paying customers.

“To find your way, talk to your customers and understand their goals and pains.”

To fix the climate, these 10 investors are betting the house on the ocean

Image credits: Liang Wendong/VCG/Getty Images

Harnessing the ocean for energy has led to disasters like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which released nearly 5 million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

Today, wind power and wave action are just two technologies prompting investors to take a closer look at ocean conservation technologies, reports Tim De Chant.

To learn more about the opportunities they are looking for and find out how climate change is shaping their investment thesis, he asked:

• Daniela V. Fernandez, Founder and CEO of Sustainable Ocean Alliance, Managing Partner at Seabird Ventures
• Tim Agnew, General Partner, Bold Ocean Ventures
• Peter Bryant, Program Manager (Oceans), Builders Initiative
• Kate Danaher, Managing Director (Oceans and Seafood), S2G Ventures
• Francis O’Sullivan, Managing Director (Oceans and Seafood), S2G Ventures
• Stephan Feilhauer, Managing Director (Clean Energy), S2G Ventures
• Sanjeev Krishnan, Senior Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, S2G Ventures
• Rita Sousa, Partner, Faber Ventures
• Christian Lim, Managing Director, SWEN Blue Ocean Partners
• Reece Pacheco, Partner, Propeller

Pitch Deck Teardown: Gable’s $12 Million Series A Deck

Picture credits: Gable (Opens in a new window)

Remote workspace platform Gable has raised a Series A round of $12 million to expand its operations, which currently serve more than 5,000 workers in 26 countries.

“Facilitating the co-working space business for startups certainly has its challenges, but it’s also a large and growing market,” writes Haje Jan Kamps. “Gable weaves his story with ease.”

Here is their set of 21 Series A slides:

• cover slide
• Team slide
• Market Context Slide (“The Remote Work Revolution”)
• Problem Slide #1 (“It’s hard to use the remote first”)
• How people solve it now (“How it’s done today”)
• Issue Slide #2 (“Top Issues”)
• Solutions Slide
• Traction slide (“Where are we”)
• Product slide n°1 (“Employee View”)
• Product Slide #2 (“Management and insights”)
• Product Slide #3 (“Host View”)
• Traction slide (“Partnership with more than 800 places”)
• Value Proposition Slide (“Why They Choose Gable”)
• Case Study Slide #1
• Case Study Slide #2
• Business model slide
• Market Size Slide (“TAM”)
• Go-To-Market Slide (“Evolutionary Process”)
• Marketing Slide (“Massive Channel Opportunity”)
• Product Roadmap Slide
• Please swipe

Dear Sophie: What are my options for changing my status from an L-1 visa?

Picture credits: Bryce Durbin/TechCrunch

Dear Sophia,

I started working for my current employer on STEM-OPT, but lost the H-1B lottery four times. Fortunately, my employer transferred me to an international office and I am now returning to the United States on an L-1 visa.

I heard many complaints from classmates about not being able to change employers on an L-1 visa. I can’t see myself staying with my employer for six more years, which is the estimated time until I can get a green card based on my employer’s internal policy.

What are my options for changing my immigration status so I can work at a startup in the United States within a year or two?

— Tenacious transferee

Top legal issues for influencers and brands (and how to deal with them)

Picture credits: Somemeans (Opens in a new window) /Getty Pictures

Nobody needs a mega-influencer like Serena Williams or a Kardashian to create buzz for their startup — an evangelist with just a few thousand followers can push qualified customers into your product funnel.

But before hiring a TikTok or YouTube personality, brand marketers should familiarize themselves with the laws that govern how influencers operate and the risks associated with non-compliance.

“New legal issues and risks have emerged for both influencers and brands,” says Nicholas Sandy, litigation attorney at Pryor Cashman.

“Key and recurring issues relate to licensing and copyright infringement, disclosures and statements in endorsements, compliance with securities laws and defamation.”

Apply now to speak at TechCrunch Disrupt in September

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Submit a title and description of the topic you would like to talk about by April 21.

Selected applicants will have the opportunity to lead a panel discussion or participate in a breakout session followed by a Q&A session with the audience.